Dreams

Hi,

Over the weekend there was sunshine, swimming and water everywhere. BamBam gets mellower as Daku gets bigger, and life in Chiang Rai is still our little paradise.

I'm surprised that more of you didn't write me about the weekend song. Guess you were busy with your holidays. It was "No Particular Place to Go" by the one and only Chuck Berry. That was in 1964. Here's one you'll remember:
"I wanna run, but there's no place to go 'cause heartaches will follow me I know. Without your love, a love I need, it's the beginning of the end for me....So don't you leave me __ __ __ __ __ __..." Clue: It's by four guys who topped the charts many times, pleading not to be left alone. Hmm.

Let me begin by letting you know that despite the news that you hear about the unrest in the Kingdom, all is well in Chiang Rai. The 'Red Shirts' are wreaking havoc in Bangkok and other areas but up here in the north the only thing that seems to matter is Songkran. This place is party central. The throwing of water is a high priority, along with having a party at the same time. Up and down the streets there are 'Water Stations', as we like to call them, with young and old armed with cups, bowls and buckets ready to douse passers by. Motorbikes are an obvious first choice and they really get it. There are also rolling water stations. Pick-up trucks with 50 gallon drums of water roam the streets throwing water on other cars and bikes and also 'attacking' throwers on the side of the road. On our way to dinner Sunday night we were stopped at a traffic light on the highway behind a truck with three young women on the back. They had a big drum of water and they were all soaked. One of them began taunting some guys on the side of the road. One of the guys ran across the highway with a bucket and made a direct hit.

There are also the little solo throwers that are as cute as they can be. Boys and girls ten and under standing vigil with their little containers, waiting for the next vehicle. They twist around and, with perfect timing, hurl the water so it hits just as you pass them. The looks on their little faces is priceless. It's a combination of glee and devilment.

Saturday Johan came over and we made some adjustments to the pool and started cleaning the water. Sunday and today we swam and it was wonderful. The weather was hot and the water was perfect. Things are definitely looking up. There is a different perspective, standing in the water surveying our house and property. A sense of accomplishment and serenity.

BamBam has become very loving lately. She likes to cuddle, at least when she's hanging out with us. If Daku is in the room it can be a different story. They love to play and sometimes she gets carried away. When we're outside she can be a handful, picking up rocks and taunting us to try and catch her. Daku has picked up a few of her tricks and we're starting to training him because he's already too fast to catch and he's going to be a very large dog in a very short time. He's so cute that it's hard to get mad at him when he does what he does.

Have a Marvelous Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
~Langston Hughes

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